Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 8:12

Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 8:12

"I have written to him the great things of my law, but they were counted as a strange thing."

This reminded me of going to the temple the first time. How strange I thought it was. It took many years before I did not find it such and came to love it. I pondered on how many of God's laws seem strange. Surely, the law of chastity is considered foreign and strange to many. The word of wisdom and tithing would seem oppressive to some. All of these things I have come to embrace for the blessing that they are.

Day 3029

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Kings 11:4, 7-8

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Kings 11:4, 7-8

"For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.

Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon.

And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods."

Solomon had 700 wives, princesses, and 300 concubines, and not all where given of the Lord. Some of these wives were "strange women" of nations that the children of Israel were told not to marry into. "For surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love." (vs. 3)

With all the wisdom Solomon had, his heart was his downfall. I can just picture him thinking that it was a good thing to make his wives happy by helping them worship their gods. Then as a man of wisdom decides to learn more about them. It's so easy to think there is no harm in learning more about other religions and beliefs. I know I have caught myself at times doing that. Which is a rather interesting experience. There seems to be some fine line where it's ok to learn a few things, and then you have to step back and put it aside. I had such an experience just recently.

I have been following this particular news story and there was a rather large news dump on items found during the investigations. I found it just so bizarre how these individuals, that professed to be of my same faith, could come up with such perverted and twisted beliefs that sounded nothing like it. It didn't make any sense which lead to a fascination in trying to understand it. I found myself reading one article after another on them. Then I listened to various interviews which afterwards my daughter and I would talk about how bizarre they were.

Then in the middle of an article I was told by the spirit, "That is enough. Don't touch it or look any more on that subject." I had all the information that I needed. To go any further would be crossing the line. I was told I would never makes any sense of this, because this is Satan's realm, and it is designed by him to be that way. So, right at the height of being so engrossed in a story I had to walk away. Which I did and immediately any desire to read anything about this story left me. The understanding I was to gain was how the adversary works, but not in what he teaches.

This experience makes me appreciate how Solomon could go from fascination in trying to understand his strange wives, into letting it consume and over power him into the realm of embracing Satan's teachings. You simply cannot mess with the adversary, which truly is at the core of their beliefs. Confusion and trying to understand it is Satan's tool, and that is how he draws you in.

Day 2461

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 24:23

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 24:23

"Now therefore put away, said he, the strange gods which are among you, and incline your heart unto the LORD God of Israel."

This verse made me think of headline I saw today that said "Politics Is America's New Religion". I had remarked to my son that I believed that people have replaced God with politics. They have created their own god out of it. They worship the constitution, they worship political leaders, they pursue their politics with religious zeal. They are behaving very oddly. Now I even see this verse differently because of the usage of the phrase "strange gods". Yes, politics have become one of those strange gods that people are worshipping. Just like so many other worldly things. We are a world with an unlimited number of "strange gods", and there will be a price to pay for it. "If ye forsake the LORD, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you hurt, and consume you, after that he hath done you good."

(Joshua 24:20)

Day 2370

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Kings 13:16-19

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Kings 13:16-19
"And he said, I may not return with thee, nor go in with thee: neither shall I eat bread nor drink water with thee in this place:
For it was said to me by the word of the Lord, Thou shalt eat no bread nor drink water there, nor turn again to go by the way that thou camest.
He said unto him, I am a prophet also as thou art; and an angel spake unto me by the word of the Lord, saying, Bring him back with thee into thine house, that he may eat bread and drink water. But he lied unto him.
So he went with him and did eat bread in his house and drank water.

I sat and wept for this "man of God out of Judah". He delivered his message to Jeroboam and was faithful in seeking and following the word of the Lord while with him. Then he is deceived by an "old prophet in Beth-el" and follows his invitation to go back to his house. This was against what the Lord had warned him of, and later he is killed. Would I not want to listen also to a prophet? Obviously this was no longer a prophet of God that he meet. How would I know the difference?

I decided that if I am on an errand of the Lord, and the path is told me different by anyone else I should inquire of the Lord who's errand I am on first. I should not take the word of another just because of their position. If they are of the Lord I would get the same answer. In fact I have been encouraged by my prophet to pray for confirmation and receive my own testimony of things. This story teaches the importance of what I have been taught.

Sadly, this has made me think of recent events for me. A family I love and have admired is now on a strange path, following false gods and teaching priestcrafts and occult practices. I have given my single warning and must leave them to themselves. What troubles my soul are those that will follow them, just because of what they used to be. I know the very elect are being deceived. How grateful I am for the scriptures and living prophets and apostles on the earth. I will not be deceived if I keep from strange paths, and do not drink their water. God has named all his laws and if I do not find them in the scriptures then they are not his. The way is very straight and clear ahead.


Day 879